Hartmann spending spring break in Nicaragua

February 11, 2002|By Hillary Dickerson

GAYLORD - While some college students are busy making plans for their trips south to sunny Florida or other warm vacation spots over spring break, Boston College (BC) senior Leanne Hartmann is also busy, but with vastly different plans. She's envisioning her early March break from classes as a way to fully immerse herself in another culture as an up-close learning experience.

Twenty-one-year old Hartmann, a 1998 graduate of St. Mary Cathedral High School, is readying herself for an alternative spring break in Nicaragua, a trip organized through the BC Office of Campus Ministry. She'll join 13 other eager college students and two administrators for the experience of a lifetime March 1-9.

Nicaragua may not seem like the ideal destination to many. It is, after all, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, facing all sorts of historical and political circumstances as well as current drought conditions. Most vividly, perhaps, many people will remember the horrifying news reports that splashed across television screens when Hurricane Mitch devastated the country in 1998.

Advertisement

Hartmann, the daughter of Paul and Betty Hartmann of Gaylord, is pursuing a degree in psychology at BC with a minor in faith, peace and justice. "I have a very strong interest in international issues and social justice," said Hartmann, during a telephone call from campus.

That interest was most likely sparked, Hartmann believes, while she was in South Africa at Rhodes University with a study abroad program from July to December, 2000. During the time she spent in Grahamstown, a city of 100,000 residents, and in traveling the country the last month there, Hartmann had an eye-opening encounter.

"It really was a unique experience," noted Hartmann. She explained the view she came to have of the country from both a student's perspective and that of a tourist. The entire group was very close to the real-life struggles presented daily. Hartmann, in particular, spent a considerable amount of time involved with volunteer work in local communities.

With elements of her South African experience near the front of her mind, once back at BC, Hartmann jumped at the opportunity to apply for the Nicaragua trip. After a lengthy application process and interview, Hartmann learned she'd been one of 14 students accepted to participate. Needless to say, she was thrilled. "I've never been to Latin America," Hartmann said. "And I wanted to see the issues."

The group of 16 will do just that - see the issues firsthand. Because the trip is termed an "immersion" trip - not a service trip - they'll meet with educators, health-care professionals, religious and political leaders to see and hear what life is like as well as the challenges presented to the small country's citizens. It'll be an intensive, weeklong class, which also will try to do good by distributing some food, medicine and toys. Hartmann has no doubt she'll learn a great deal.

According to Hartmann, the first half of the stay the BC students and escorts will spend time in Nicaragua's capital, Managua, where they will meet leaders and hear the challenges. The second half of the trip will be quite different as the group travels to a remote village. There, the students will sleep on hammocks, eat traditional foods and assist the village people with daily tasks.

As the anticipation level builds, Hartmann is growing more and more prepared with each passing day. "I'm looking forward to meeting the leaders in Nicaragua and hearing what they have to say," she noted. "I think it will be insightful to see how politics play out and what that means for the people."

In the meantime, between weekly organizational meetings and other readings, Hartmann and her fellow travelers are busy learning as much as they can about the culture, the people and the struggles of the small country they'll visit. "There really is a lot of preparation that goes into it," Hartmann said, referring to the historical roots and U.S. involvement. It may seem that with all the time and effort spent in the planning stages, Hartmann may have had little time to brace herself for the potentially life-altering exposure to a drastically different lifestyle. Hartmann, however, has given a great deal of thought to what this all means in her life and for her future plans.

She's not really concerned about her safety abroad - even in light of recent events. She said the BC program is strong in Nicaragua, and that is certainly reassuring to her and the rest of the group. "I'm more concerned about how much we're going to take back," noted Hartmann. With plans for law school in her future, Hartmann said thoughts of joining the Peace Corps are always in the back of her mind. "Living every day with these people's stories will be difficult."

The trip is just the beginning of this group's mission. Upon their return home, they'll be charged with sharing their experiences and all that they learned with others. "We go and learn as much as we can. We come back and share it with people," said Hartmann. "I feel our most important mission is to listen to the stories of the Nicaraguans and then share them upon returning to the United States with anyone who will listen."

Hartmann is in the midst of a campaign to help her group raise $18,000 for the trip. Those interested in donating to the cause may send donations to Boston College Campus Ministry, Attn: Melissa Kelley, McElroy 227, 140 Commonwealth Ave., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.